You are currently viewing a snapshot of www.mozilla.org taken on April 21, 2008. Most of this content is highly out of date (some pages haven't been updated since the project began in 1998) and exists for historical purposes only. If there are any pages on this archive site that you think should be added back to www.mozilla.org, please file a bug.

Skip to main content

M3 Release Notes

These release notes, last updated March 23, 1999, describe installation instructions and known issues pertinent to the M3 release. These notes are updated as we receive feedback, so please check back for new information. This release expires on May 1, 1999 at 00:01 am.

Installing the M3 Release Build

Unix Instructions

  1. Create a directory named "mozilla" and move the tar.gz file into the mozilla directory.
  2. Change to the mozilla directory (cd mozilla) and untar the archive (gzip -cd mozilla-i686-pc-linux-gnu.tar.gz | tar -xvf -).

    3. This will create a directory called "package."
  3. Change to the "package" directory.
  4. Type (pwd) and remember the result; you will need it for steps 4-6. It might look like:  /home/me/mozilla/package.
  5. If you are running tcsh or csh, type

    6. ( setenv MOZILLA_FIVE_HOME RESULT_OF_STEP_4 )
    and then type
    ( setenv LD_LIBRARY_PATH RESULT_OF_STEP_4:/lib:/usr/lib )
  6. If you are running bash, sh, or ksh, type

    7. ( export MOZILLA_FIVE_HOME=RESULT_OF_STEP_4 )
    and then type
    ( export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=RESULT_OF_STEP_4:/lib:/usr/lib )
  7. Enter (cd ..) and create a directory named "user".
  8. Change to directory "user" and type

    9. ../package/apprunner
Note: To use your current bookmarks with M3, you should overwrite the default M3 bookmark file with your own, for example, copy "~/.netscape/bookmarks.html" to "mozilla/package/res/rdf/bookmarks.html."
 

Win32 Instructions

You will need a copy of WinZip.  This is shareware available at www.download.com.
  1. Click once on the mozilla-win32.zip link. The file will be downloaded to your default folder.
  2. Click on the mozilla-win32.zip file to launch WinZip.
  3. After clicking  "I Agree" to terms of WinZip shareware, click the Extract button in the WinZip tool bar. An x86 folder with application and associated files will be unzipped.
  4. Select Apprunner from x86 folder to launch the program.
  • Run "apprunner.exe" to use browser and mail.
  • Run "viewer.exe" to run only the gecko layout engine
Note: To use your current bookmarks with M3, you should overwrite the default M3 bookmark file with your own, for example, copy "C:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\<profile_name>\bookmark.htm" to "mozilla\package\res\rdf\bookmarks.html." Note that the file name changes slightly and that
'<profile_name>' needs to be replaced by your user profile name.

Mail Win32 Instructions

  1. Unzip/extract the seamonkey.zip file.

    2. It should create a "\x86rel" directory with subdirectories (cache, components, mimeplugins, plugin and res).
  2. The current build reads the following preferences, assuming a preferences (prefs.js) file exists in the same directory as Apprunner. Substitute your actual preferences for the dummy values. (Use notepad.exe or other text editor and be sure to save the file with a ".js" extension):
      3. user_pref("mail.rootFolder", "c:\\program files\\netscape\\users\\test\\mail");
      user_pref("network.hosts.pop_server", "dredd");
      user_pref("network.hosts.smtp_server", "dredd");
      user_pref("mail.smtp_name", "test");
      user_pref("mail.pop_name", "test");
      user_pref("mail.pop_password", "clear text pop password");
      user_pref("mail.identity.reply_to", "test@netscape.com");
      user_pref("mail.identity.organization", "Mozilla.Org");
      user_pref("mail.identity.useremail", "test@netscape.com");
      user_pref("mail.identity.username", "Mozilla Q. Dragon");
      user_pref("browser.download_directory", "C:\\TEMP\\");

      Note: If you are unable to send mail, make sure the directory specified at "browser.download_directory" actually exists.

  3. Verify the prefs.js file is in the \x86rel directory.
  4.  You can bring up Messenger using any of these methods:

    5. a) from command line using this argument:  url resurce:/res/samples/mailshell.xul
    b) or, from within apprunner's UI under Tasks | Messenger
    c) or, from command line using -mail argument
    The application should show a mail UI.
  5. You should be able to see your Inbox with messages.  Also, you should be able to see your mail folders in the folder pane.

MacOS Instructions

If you have Stuffit Expander™ installed and configured by your browser:
  1. Click once on the mozilla-mac.sea.bin link. The file will be downloaded to your default folder (usually the desktop) and Stuffit will start up and convert it to mozilla-mac.sea for you. Then stuffit will open up mozilla-mac.sea and convert it to a folder called mozilla-mac for you.
  2. Open the mozilla-mac folder and double-click the file "apprunner." (Note: you no longer need the .bin files.)
Note: If you try step one and your browser asks you what you want to do it's because you don't have Stuffit™ configured. In that case, just click Save and continue from Step #3 below.

If you do not have  Stuffit Expander™ installed or your browser is not properly configured:

  1. Make sure you have Stuffit™ somewhere on your hard drive.
  2. Click and hold the mozilla-mac.sea.bin link.
  3. Choose "Save this link as...".

    4. You see a file dialog box where you can select where you want to save the file (for example, your Desktop).
  4. Click the Save button.
  5. Double-click on the newly created icon "mozilla-mac.sea.bin".
  6. Stuffit™ will start up and simultaneously create a file "mozilla-mac.sea", and a folder called "mozilla-mac."
  7. Open the mozilla-mac folder and double-click the file "apprunner." (Note: you no longer need the .bin files.)
Note: To use your current bookmarks with M3, you should overwrite the default M3 bookmark file with your own. Copy your bookmark file, located in your profile directory (example:  "{Hard Disk}:System Folder:Preferences:Netscape Users:{Profile Name}") into your "{Mozilla Binary Location}/res/rdf/" folder.

Files Created or Used

Windows 
user/ $windir/
prefs.js (Preferences file (used))
cache/ (cache directory)
cookies.txt (cookies file)
*cookterm.txt (used to selectively accept/reject cookies)
FieldSchema.tbl (files for auto form filling)
SchemaConcat.tbl (files for auto form filling)
SchemaValue.tbl (files for auto form filling)
URLFieldSchema.tbl (files for auto form filling)
signons.txt (logins and passwords file store in clear text)		 mozregistry.dat (the Mozilla registry)
Unix 
user/ ~/.mozilla/
prefences.js (preferences file (use))
cache/ (cache directory)
cookies.txt (cookies file)		 mozregistry.dat (the Mozilla registry)
Mac 
TBA TBA

*Note:"cookterm.txt" is a file created for Windows, used to selectively accept cookies from certain sites and not from others. It is used only if you set your preferences so you see a warning before accepting cookies. To do that, hand edit the prefs.js file to include:

     
    user.pref ("network.cookie.rememberAboutCookies", true);

Limited Support Features

     
     
    Available Navigator Functionality
    Functionality Description Comments
    Back, Forward, Reload    
    Location Field Can browse by entering URLs  
    Various Menu Commands Menus do work, but many commands not hooked up.  Menus items that do work include: File menu: New Browser Window, New > Blank Page / Page using Template ... / Page using Draft ..., Quit;  Go menu; Bookmarks menu (except Add commands)  
    Toolbars Toolbars display above and below content window, most buttons working though a couple are not hooked up to execute a command. No toolbar hiding or moving enabled yet.
    Link Buttons Buttons that simply link to a web address, including the N brand button, Home, My Netscape.  
    Access Personal Toolbar Links in Personal Toolbar display and can be used Can't add or edit
    Access Bookmarks Access Bookmarks through Bookmarks menu, can't add or edit. Can load your current bookmarks
    file.  See instructions under platform installations.
    Access via Manage 
    Bookmarks Window    		 Can open and close folders, one click to launch bookmarked URL in new toolbar-less window. File menu > New Window command also works.  
    Status Display Toolbar beneath content area, status during loading of URLs.  
 
Available Mail/News Functionality (Win32 only)
Functionality Description Comments
Start Mail Bring up the 3-pane mail window
a)  from command line using this argument: 
-url resource:/res/samples/mailshell.xul
b)  from within apprunner's UI under Tasks | Messenger		  
Get New Mail POP only (automatically coded for "leave messages on server")  
Edit/Send Text Message Bring up the compose window by clicking New Msg button, entering recipient name, subject, and body of message.  Click Send.  Currently, the compose window has to be manually closed.
Handle SMTP When you click Send, the message gets sent.  Verify you can get this message in the recipient's mail account.  
Display Message News: able to go to the "demos" menu and display a news article.
Mail: able to select a message in the Inbox folder and have it displayed in the message pane.		  
Display Folder List Local folders display in the folder pane.  
Delete Message Select a message in the thread pane and click the Delete toolbar button to delete the message.  


Additionally:

  • Apprunner reads the Preferences file from the current directory, not from the executable directory. The preferences file names are:

    •  
    • Windows: prefs.js
    • UNIX: preferences.js
    • MacOS: Netscape Preferences

      •  
  • On UNIX, preferences are not read from ~/.mozilla/.

 
Available Gecko Functionality
Functionality Description Comments
HTML 4.0
  • Done except bugs.
  
Cascading Style Sheets, level 1 (CSS1)
  • Features 98% done; bug-fixing remains.
  
Cascading Style Sheets, level 2 (CSS2)
  •  Positioning, tables, selectors done.
 No support is committed for final release, but some features are already working and will likely be enabled.
Document Object Model (DOM) Level 0
  • Done.
  
Document Object Model (DOM) Level 1 HTML
  • 90% done.
  
Document Object Model (DOM) Level 2
  • JavaScript event model 80% done.
  
Extensible Markup Language (XML)
  • James Clark expat parser in; documents parse.
  • Simple XLink and HTML Namespaces done.
  
XML + CSS1
  • Working.
  

Known Issues

  • MacOS only: Apple and applications menus are missing. Also, Apprunner starts up with a blank window. Workaround: Remove all non-7-bit ASCII characters and slashes from all superdirectories of your Apprunner file.

    •  
  • Loading problems (possible crash or freeze) sometimes occurs on pages which contain applets.

    •  
  • Within Viewer, the Debug & Tools menu options are not currently working or produce unpredictable results. Choosing Java Console from the Tools menu causes the application to freeze or crash.

    •  
  • If you have local folders with many saved messages (hundreds or thousands), don't point the Mail application at your actual local folder hierarchy. All folders reparse at startup, and vast quantities of memory could be consumed if your total number of messages is high.

    •  
  • Floppy diskettes inserted while Apprunner is running are not mounted.

    •  
  • Information about preferences related to saving username/password or form data:
    1. To see a warning prompt before saving username/password or form data, set the following preference (by hand) in your prefs.js file:

      2.  

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

      user_pref("wallet.useDialogs", true);

      This pref is false by default, so saving will be done silently. This is done because there currently are no dialog boxes and the warning prompt would occur in the console window.
    1. To suppress saving of form data altogether, set the following preference (by hand) in your prefs.js file:

      2.  

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

      user_pref("wallet.captureForms", false);

      This preference is true by default.

    2. To supress saving of username/password, set the following preference (by hand) in your prefs.js file:

      3.  

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

      user_pref("network.singon.rememberSignons", false);

      This preference is true by default.

  • Issues in the Mail Compose window:

    •  
    • The cursor does not appear in the message field until you begin typing.
    • At the end of a line, you may need to press Enter twice before the cursor moves to the next line.
    • The received message does not wrap lines, so you may want to embed hard returns in your messages.
    • Messages may contain either too much vertical white space or not enough.

      •  
  • The following toolbar and menu items are either not fully functional or disabled:
    • Back button (doesn't work with manually entered URLs)
    • Stop button
    • Close menu item (use Close box to close windows)
    • Print (toolbar button & menu item) and Print Preview

      •  
    Also, keyboard shortcuts/command keys are not available for most menu items with the exception of the following for the mail compose window: Ctrl-C (copy), Ctrl-V (paste), Ctrl-Z (undo). and Ctrl-Y(redo) and their Unix and MacOS equivalents.
       

International M3 Release

  • For M3, you must use a font with an ASCII font name. Some Japanese Windows users will not be able to use native fonts which come with Windows-Japanese versions and should download these Bitstream Cyberbit fonts from the ftp server:    ftp://ftp.netscape.com/pub/communicator/extras/fonts/windows/CYBERBIT.TTF.  Refer to the    "READMEfirst.txt" file for usage information.
  • Font preference setting, modify prefs.js directly. For Japanese or non-Japanese Windows browsing only with Bitstream Cyberbit font installed:

    •              // Netscape User Preferences
                // This is a generated file!  Do not edit.
                user_pref("intl.character_set", 2308);
                user_pref("intl.font260.win.fixed_font", "Bitstream Cyberbit");
                user_pref("intl.font260.win.fixed_size", 12);
                user_pref("intl.font260.win.prop_font", "Bitstream Cyberbit");
                user_pref("intl.font260.win.prop_size", 12);
 
  • For non-Japanese Windows browsing only with MS Gothic font installed (licensed only for IE users). If the Japanese MS Gothic font happens to work OK with M3 on your Japanese Windows, then   replace the English name "MS Gothic" below with the Japanese name:
                // Netscape User Preferences
                   // This is a generated file!  Do not edit.
                   user_pref("intl.character_set", 2308);
                   user_pref("intl.font260.win.fixed_font", "MS Gothic");
                   user_pref("intl.font260.win.fixed_size", 12);
                   user_pref("intl.font260.win.prop_font", "MS Gothic");
                   user_pref("intl.font260.win.prop_size", 12);
Note: these are browsing only settings. For Japanese mail display, additional mail server info must be provided. See below in the Mail section for detailed info. 
  • Browsing Japanese HTML Pages
    • Platforms:

      • Win32 Ja
      MacOS 8.5 w/Japanese Language Kit
    • Encodings:

      • Shift_JIS
      EUC-JP ISO-2022-JP
    • (Non-Latin1) Pages must have charset info in <META> tags
    • Need to click Reload to correctly display the first part of (a non-Latin1) page
  • Browsing Latin1 HTML Pages
    • Platforms:

      • Win32
      MacOS 8.1 (or higher)
      Linux
       
  • Printing disabled for M3

International M3 Mail Application

  • Platforms: Win32 Ja
  • 8-bit display im mail is dependent on the system charset. Japanese display requires Japanese Windows.
  • US Windows can display Latin 1, but not other charsets, etc.  Note that no special font settings are required for Latin 1 display under US Windows -- just modify the mail server settings in the prefs.js file.
  • For a sample prefs.js file for Japanese mail and browsing with the Bitstream Cyberbit font, download  the following sample file and modify the mail server settings as needed:     http://home.netscape.com/eng/intl/docs/comm5/cyberbit-prefs/  (prefs.js file for Bitstream Cyberbit font)
  • Because of the limitation noted in the browser section for this release, "MS Gothic (in Japanese)" font may  not work for all Japanese Windows settings. But if the Japanese MS Gothic font works OK on your Japanese Windows system with M3, then, download the following sample prefs.js file for "MS Gothic" font and change the font name into Japanese and modify server info as needed. Note that the English font name "MS Gothic" will not work on Japanese Windows:   http://home.netscape.com/eng/intl/docs/comm5/msgothic-prefs/ (prefs.js file for Japanese MS Gothic font)
  • Features that are not supported:
    • No Japanese rendering on Linux
    • No Japanese IME support
    • "View|Character Set" menu not functional (Bug 2341)
    • No Japanese Auto-Detect
    • No MIME decoding in mail thread pane
    • No Japanese mail composition (including forward and reply)
    • No MIME-compliant Latin1 mail composition (M3 strips out 8-bit characters in email)
    • No posting non-ASCII forms data
    • No Japanese printing on Linux